Temporary support system

ABSTRACT

A temporary tripod support system for use during preparation of the home foundation of concrete piers and the like. At locations along the sidewalls and mate line of home the tripod supports may be installed in a number significantly less than conventional design supports. The tripod support system comprises multiple tripods each having a triangular transverse frame to support an extended undercarriage area. Due to its triangle top, each tripod makes two separate supporting abutments with its overlying straight perimeter or mating line joist at the same time thereby reducing the total number of supporting installations and labors in half.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a building support system, and moreparticularly to a temporary support system for supporting manufacturedhomes during foundation process.

B. Description of the Prior Art

Manufactured homes are transported to a customer's site for a permanentor semi-permanent setup. One way in practice is through cast-in-placeand on-the-ground building foundations wherein the complete building issuspended while vertical supports such as construction piers andstanchions at selected locations in the foundation plan are engaged attheir top ends to an undercarriage of the building and their bottom endsare buried in fabric containers of cementitious slurry until the piersand stanchions become an integral foundation in the solid block ofconcrete conformed to the ground for the leveled dwelling house.

For the suspension of the building, various designs of support areknown. U.S. Pat. No. 4,348,843 discloses height-adjustable I-Beamstanchions for supporting the I-Beam bearing the mobile homeundercarriage. The stanchion has two angle iron support arms extendingfrom the bottom of the stanchion at right angle to each other reachingthe undercarriage to assist in supporting the I-Beam and undercarriage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,767 offers a mobile home support stand forpermanently supporting a mobile home to counteract high winds and/orearth vibrations. The support stand has a support stud functioning as ascrew-jack disposed between a ground steel post and a home I beam, and ahold down assembly clamps the post and beam together.

Using these and other known structures the required time to finish thehome supporting was slow because ten or more of such vertical supportsmust be erected one by one for each undercarriage I beam and the totalnumber multiplies depending upon the type or size of the manufacturedhome to build.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When a, manufactured housing arrives at the site, the flooring assemblyis typically supported at its underside by horizontal parallel beams orjoists and also vertically supported by foundations that stand firmly onthe ground.

The present invention provides a temporary tripod support system duringpreparation of the home foundation of concrete piers and the like. Atlocations along the sidewalls and mate line of home the tripod supportsmay be installed in a number significantly less than conventional designsupports.

The tripod support system comprises multiple tripods each having atriangular transverse frame to support an extended undercarriage area.

Due to its triangle top, each tripod makes two separate supportingabutments with its overlying straight perimeter or mating line joist atthe same time thereby reducing the total number of supportinginstallations and labors in half which no other precedent supports couldoffer.

During the operation of the inventive tripod supports a ground surfacecast-in-place foundation assembly may be made with a plurality ofbuttress assemblies set in the foundation to vertically engage theperimeter beam of the level modular home.

Such buttress assembly may include a means for seating the perimeterbeam, a tubular stanchion having an upper and lower end, an anchor baseplate fixedly connected to the lower end of the stanchion and a coupleof transverse tabs attached to the intermediate portions of thestanchion; and a flowable and settable foundation material whichenvelopes at least a portion of the buttress assembly, whereby thefoundation material conforms to the shape of a porous fabric containerinto which it is poured, and it sets with the enveloped portion of thebuttress assembly embedded therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a tripod support of the presentinvention in operation showing one of three piers of the tripodsupporting a sidewall or mate line of a home.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tripod showing its saddle jacks in positionat each junction of the three cross.beams.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the saddle jack according tothe present invention.

FIG. 4 shows in detail the saddle jack holding two adjacent cross beamsat their junction.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tripod support system supportingsidewalls of the manufactured home on site.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a tripod support 10 is shown assembled tobuttress the bottom of a sidewall of home 11. The tripod support 10 hasthree identical piers of which piers 12 and 13 are numbered in FIG. 2.The pier 12 comprises four metal legs 15 through 18 welded to arectangular bottom frame 19, which is in turn fastened by nails orscrews to a bearing pad 20 laid on the ground. The pad 20 may be made ofwood. The legs 15-18 are converged at their upper ends where they arewelded together. At the top of the legs a stopper nut 21 is rotatablyinstalled. The nut 21 is positioned so that its inner threads extendvertically in the center of the pier 12.

Triangular framework 22 of three cross beams 22 a, 22 b and 22 c aresuspended to make contact with the sidewall 11. This suspension isenforced by three saddle members 23 adjustably threaded to the nut 21 ofthe pier 12 through a rod 24 which has corresponding threads formed onits outer faces and is welded to the bottom of the saddle member 23 asshown in detail in FIG. 3. Thus, the saddle member 23, threaded rod 24and nut 21 together constitute a saddle jack assembly 25 for buttressingthe cross beams 22 a-22 c at their junctions.

Referring further to FIG. 4, the saddle member 23 with rod 24 of thesaddle jack assembly 25 is adapted to be transported as a loosecomponent to the construction site where it is assembled with the crossbeams as well as the corresponding pier.

The cross beams 22 a-22 c have a common structure so that they can beinterchangeably laid to extend between any two saddle jack assemblies 25forming the triangular framework 22. In a right handed configuration,the four walls cooperate, two of them holding a right supporting beamand two of them holding a left supporting beam. The right supportingbeam extends beyond the end of the left supporting beam. Because theyare identical, the beams can be interchanged, and the saddle jacks canalso be interchanged. The top of view of the saddle jack shows that theconfiguration can be reversed so that the left beam protrudes beyond theend of the right beam, so that the top view is a mirror image. Taking amirror image configuration translates a right handed configuration intoa left handed configuration.

The saddle member 23 has a horizontal plate 26 comprising an elongatedmain plate section 27 and a crossing plate section 28 extending from themain plate section so that the longitudinal axis of the section 27 andan extension of the longitudinal axis of the section 28 meet at an angleA of about 60°. In addition, the crossing plate section 28 has two endwalls of which a shorter wall 29 stands upright from a shorter lateralend of the plate section 28 facing clockwise direction in FIGS. 2 and 4and a longer wall 30 stands upright from a longer lateral end at theother side. The opposing walls 29 and 30 may have a third bridging wallbetween them as shown in FIG. 2 to limit the cross beam 22 a in itslongitudinal movements although an open structure of FIG. 4 works wellto hold the beam.

On the other hand, the main plate section 27 has a first end wall 31extending along the entire lateral edge of the plate section 27 facingapproximately the same direction of the shorter end wall 29 of the platesection 28. The first end wall 31 also joins the shorter end wall 29 atan inner merging point 32 between the plate sections 28 and 28.

However, at the other side of the first end wall 31 the main platesection 27 has a second end wall 33 extending from an open end 34 of themain section 27 and terminating short of a virtual extension line of theshorter end wall 29 to allow for laying the cross beam 22 a past thesecond end wall 33. The second end wall 33 faces inwardly of thetriangular framework 22 in FIG. 2. The threaded rod 24 may be centeredalong a line connecting the inner merging point 32 and an outer mergingpoint 35.

The cross beams 22 a and 22 b are shown as seated in the saddle jackassembly 25 making an angled joint of the beams each having rectangularcross sections. The beam 22 a has a first blunt end 36 adapted to beseated on the saddle member 23 defined by the plate section 28 and theopposing Walls 29 and 30. The other second end of the beam 22 a is notshown in FIG. 4 but is similar to the next cross beam 22 b wherein itsabutment end 37 is cut at the angle A to make an angled assemblage withthe opposing side of the blunt end 36 of the cross beam 22 a when thecross beam 22 b is seated on the saddle member 23 defined by the platesection 27 and the opposing walls 31 and 33.

The saddle jack has an interior connection and an exterior connection.The interior connection has a portion of the connection inside of thetriangle formed by the horizontal supporting beams, and the exteriorconnection is located outside of the triangle formed by the horizontalsupporting beams. The first connection is the interior connection shownin FIG. 4 as a bolted connection 44, 45. The exterior connection is alsoshown as a bolted connection 40, 41. Assembling the blunt end 36 of thecross beam 22 a with the saddle jack assembly 25 may be done by using athru bolt 40 and a nut 41 threaded through an opening 42 in the end wall29 and an opening 43 in the end wall 30. Likewise, the mating abutmentend 37 of the cross beam 22 b may be assembled with the saddle jackassembly 25 using a thru bolt 44 and a nut 45 threaded through anopening 46 in the end wall 31 and an opening 47 in the end wall 33.Optionally, washers 48 may be used with these fastening members.

FIG. 5 shows the tripod support system of the present invention appliedto the manufactured home 11 on site.

The home 11 has been suspended by the tripod support system of thepresent invention in which two of several tripod supports for thevisible sidewall are demonstrating the actual field installations.

During the operation of the tripod supports a ground surfacecast-in-place foundation assembly 100 is made with a plurality ofbuttress assemblies 101 set in the foundation to vertically engage theperimeter beam of the level modular home 11.

When the home foundation 100 is solidified, the tripod supports 10 maybe easily retrieved by first turning a round of the stopper nuts 21 tolower the saddle jack assemblies 25 out of engagements with the home 11.The released tripod supports 10 can be immediately disassembled at theirjoints by unscrewing the nuts 41 and 45 of the saddle jack assemblies 25into small and easy parts to transport to the next construction site.The nuts can be tightened against the pier, as seen in figure one,allowing the vertical and rotational retention of the saddle jack. Thenuts can also be called locking nuts.

Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the tripod supportsystem has been shown and described, and several modifications thereofdiscussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate thatvarious additional changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, as defined anddifferentiated by the following claims.

Call Out List of Elements

10 Tripod Support

11 Home

12, 13 Pier

15-18 Leg

19 Bottom Frame

20 Bearing Pad

21 Stopper Nut

22 Triangular Framework

22 a-22 c Cross Beam

23 Saddle Member

24 Threaded Rod

25 Saddle Jack Assembly

26 Horizontal Plate

27 Main Plate Section

28 Crossing Plate Section

29 Shorter End Wall

30 Longer End Wall

31 First End Wall

32 Inner Merging Point

33 Second End Wall

34 Open End

35 Outer Merging Point

36 Blunt End

37 Abutment End

40, 44 Thru Bolt

41, 45 Nut

42, 43, 46, 47 Opening

48 Washer

100 Cast-in-Place Foundation

101 Buttress Assembly

1. A support system comprising: a. at least three piers; b. at leastthree horizontal beams for support, each having at least two joints,which is at least one on each end; and c. at least three saddle jacks,one mounted on each pier having a vertically adjustable level, whereineach saddle jack releasably fastens to a pair of horizontal beams at thehorizontal beam joints, whereby the saddle jacks and piers arereleasably assembled to suspend the horizontal beams in a triangularframework for buttressing a load.
 2. The support system of claim 1,wherein the piers each comprise four legs forming a square base.
 3. Thesupport system of claim 2, wherein each of the piers further has a baseof wooden plank fixed to a bottom frame.
 4. The support system of claim1, wherein the saddle jack vertically adjustable level is a threaded rodengaged with a nut rotatably mounted to receive the threaded rod.
 5. Thesupport system of claim 1, wherein the saddle jack is open at a top endand connects horizontal beams at a 60 degree angle, wherein horizontalbeam joints are formed as horizontally disposed holes providing a boltedsecure connection between the saddle jack and horizontal beam.
 6. Thesupport system of claim 1, wherein each saddle jack is open at a top endand connects a left and right horizontal beam at a 60 degree angle,wherein an interior horizontal beam joint is formed on the saddle jackleft side as horizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secureconnection between the saddle jack and the left horizontal beam, whereinan exterior horizontal beam joint is formed on the saddle jack rightside as horizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secure connectionbetween the saddle jack and the right horizontal beam.
 7. The supportsystem of claim 1, wherein each saddle jack is open at a top end andconnects a left and right horizontal beam at a 60 degree angle, whereinan interior horizontal beam joint is formed on the saddle jack rightside as horizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secure connectionbetween the saddle jack and the right horizontal beam, wherein anexterior horizontal beam joint is formed on the saddle jack left side ashorizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secure connection betweenthe saddle jack and the left horizontal beam.
 8. A tripod support systemfor a manufactured home comprising: a. piers having multiple legsconnected to a bottom frame and converged at the upper ends and aleveling element at the top of the upper ends of the legs; b. horizontalbeams for supporting the bottom portion of the home, the beams beingdisposed in a horizontal plane so that the trailing edge of each beammakes an angled joint with the leading edge of the next beam at itsside; and c. saddle jacks for releasably fastening and holding up thehorizontal beams at their joints to an adjustable level, the saddle jackhaving a second leveling element for mating with the first levelingelement of one of the piers, whereby the saddle jacks and piers arereleasably assembled to suspend the horizontal beams in a triangularhorizontal framework for buttressing the home during its foundationprocess.
 9. The tripod support system for a manufactured home of claim8, wherein each of the piers further has a base of wooden plank fixed tothe bottom frame.
 10. The tripod support system for a manufactured homeof claim 8, wherein the first leveling member is a threaded rod and thesecond leveling member is a nut rotatably mounted to receive thethreaded rod.
 11. The tripod support system for a manufactured home ofclaim 8, wherein each saddle jack is open at a top end and connectshorizontal beams at a 60 degree angle, wherein horizontal beam jointsare formed as horizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secureconnection between the saddle jack and horizontal beam.
 12. The tripodsupport system for a manufactured home of claim 8, wherein each saddlejack is open at a top end and connects a left and right horizontal beamat a 60 degree angle, wherein an interior horizontal beam joint isformed on the saddle jack left side as horizontally disposed holesproviding a bolted secure connection between the saddle jack and theleft horizontal beam, wherein an exterior horizontal beam joint isformed on the saddle jack right side as horizontally disposed holesproviding a bolted secure connection between the saddle jack and theright horizontal beam.
 13. The tripod support system for a manufacturedhome of claim 8, wherein each saddle jack is open at a top end andconnects a left and right horizontal beam at a 60 degree angle, whereinan interior horizontal beam joint is formed on the saddle jack rightside as horizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secure connectionbetween the saddle jack and the right horizontal beam, wherein anexterior horizontal beam joint is formed on the saddle jack left side ashorizontally disposed holes providing a bolted secure connection betweenthe saddle jack and the left horizontal beam.
 14. A support systemcomprising: a. a pier; b. at least two horizontal beams for support,each having a joints, at one end; and c. a saddle jack mounted on thepier having a vertically adjustable level, wherein the saddle jackreleasably fastens to a pair of horizontal beams at the horizontal beamjoints, whereby the saddle jacks and piers are releasably assembled tosuspend the horizontal beams for buttressing a load, wherein each saddlejack is open at a top end and connects a left and right horizontal beamat a 60 degree angle, wherein an interior horizontal beam joint isformed on the saddle jack left side as horizontally disposed holesproviding a bolted secure connection between the saddle jack and theleft horizontal beam, wherein an exterior horizontal beam joint isformed on the saddle jack right side as horizontally disposed holesproviding a bolted secure connection between the saddle jack and theright horizontal beam.
 15. The support system of claim 14, wherein thepier comprises four legs forming a square base.